Myself and 3 other Year 10 Varsity College students had the privilege of attending the first ever Biosecurity Youth Summit at Sea World, where we joined other enthusiastic students, in a deep dive into the world of biosecurity. The first day kicked off with an exclusive ‘Behind The Scenes Tour’ led by Dr Claire Madden. She toured us around different enclosures including the sea jellies, penguins, the quarantine facility and the vet hospital. We were told about the different Biosecurity measures put into each of those areas which keeps Sea World running smoothly. This was a highlight, as we were provided with an immersive experience far beyond a typical Sea World visit! The rest of the afternoon was ours to explore the park freely, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already unforgettable experience.
The 2nd day was even more jam packed, with tons of engaging activities. We started with a hands-on workshop where we were given a variety of items to create our own Sea World biosecurity measures. Through critical thinking, it gave us a deeper understanding into how SeaWorld’s protocols are designed to sustain biosecurity. Then after a refreshing morning tea, we met our ‘living books’ who were experts from different parts of Australia specializing in different sectors. Each table rotated every 10 minutes to a different ‘living book’ who shared their career experiences, the ways our Youth can contribute to biosecurity, and the diverse career opportunities within the field. Post-lunch, we were then challenged to design a poster or video to spread awareness about a specific biosecurity issue, such as an invasive species or a disease, all within a tight 20-minute timeframe. That task definitely pushed our creativity to the limit! We then headed over to the SeaWorld Conference centre, where we listened to 4 students in a panel discussion, including Nate who was representing our college! They reflected on their past experiences with biosecurity and their newfound knowledge gained from the summit.
The key takeaway from that summit for all us was that making an impact doesn’t always require grand gestures. Small actions like cleaning your shoes to stop diseases from spreading can make a significant difference long-term. This summit was an eye-opener to understanding that we all have a significant part to play in safeguarding Queensland’s Biosecurity.Tahani Sarwar (Year 10)
